USED Ford Ka Streetka (96 - 09)

My car

I have been in love with this car ever since I first caught a glimpse of it. I bought mine last year to replace a KA and I have to say it is fab! The only problems I have had is firstly the driver's seatbelt mysteriously twisted itself up to the extent that it wouldn't wind back in. However, Ford replaced this. The second problem was the alarm had a paddy the other day, and I had to drive home with the alarm going off! But that sorted itself out and hasn't gone haywire since! These are minute problems and I've had it nearly two years I really can't complain. The drive is fantastic, it may be a little sluggish if in the wrong gear, but if you knock it down it really flies. As for handling, you can throw it round a corner and it sticks to the road like glue, fantastic!! Bring on those winding roads! The petrol does tend to disappear fairly quickly, even when driving sensibly, but overall this car is great. A tenner a week is all mine desires and I use it all 7 days. Yes, the ride is noisy but this is a soft top and the sports suspension is hard over rough roads, but what would the fun handling be like if it wasn't so? If you want a conservative, soft, comfortable ride then buy a Merc! I love this car. On sunny days with the roof down it is amazing, the car gets people looking everywhere it goes and I love looking back at it when it's all parked up and I'm off to work cos it makes me smile. It's a fun, good looking car and I wouldn't change it for the world!

My car

I bought my Streetka Ice when it first came out in September 2005. Since then, I have had to use my free RAC membership that came with the car on several occasions, thanks to the engine losing power and the engine warning light raising its ugly head.

Thank God for free roadside cover when you buy a new Ford. It has been to my local dealership twice to be fixed, as the first time they didn't believe I had a fault because their computer couldn't detect it (whatever happened to looking under a bonnet?) and it turned out that the twp oxygen sensors were faulty.

The garage fixed my car under warranty, but it still loses power every now and again, and the steering is very skittish. Like everyone else, I find it guzzles petrol for such a little car, especially when you have the roof down, and the turning circle is terrible.

The boot space, however, is fab, even when the roof is down, and the car looks great with the roof off. The inside is pretty basic and the seats are uncomfortable as hell, but the six-CD multichanger is a bonus, and the speaker sound quality is quite good.

Overall, I'm not too impressed considering I've had second-hand Kas in the past and never had a problem with them. I'm possibly looking at swapping it for a Vauxhall Tigra.

My car

I got an excellent deal on a brand new Streetka which I acquired in January 2006. Overall I am very pleased with the car, especially due to the great deal Ford had at the time.

Negatives about the car include a poor turning circle for a tiny car, and it can be quite thirsty. Some people have had problems with the roof leaking, but I have had no problems whatsoever. It is also very easy to put up and down when you know how. It can be fairly noisy with the roof up driving at speed, but i don't think this would be any different with any other convertible.

On the plus side, the interior is lovely and the six disc CD changer is great. The sound quality of the standard speakers is absolutely fantastic, very impressive. It is nippy with a light load and does attract attention, particularly with the roof down. The boot space is adequate, can't fit large items in very easily.

Overall, I am pleased with the car. It can be thirsty and because it is low with sports suspension, the ride can be bumpy but then again it handles very well and looks lovely and sporty.

My car

There are a couple of things that I would like to point out about this car. 1)The roof leaks 2)see above

The fuel consumption is very poor, especially when you drive it hard which you have to do to get any oomph. Having said that it is fun to drive. I bought my car from new in January 2004 and although I've had to take the car back several times for various problems with the engine, my main issue with this car is the roof.

Despite having a soft top, the Ford warranty does not cover any kind of water ingress AT ALL after the first year. I discovered this when I took the car in because the roof was leaking and Ford refused to look at it unless I paid £600+ for the privelage. The car was sold to me 'as the only soft top not to have ever had a reported roof problem' I now believe that this is because of the customers that chose to believe the salesman when he said all roof issues would be covered under the warrenty, and like me refuse to pay to get the fault fix. I now regularly have to clean the smelly fluffy white mould from the cabin because there is a definite problem with the roof that Ford won't even look at. What's Ford's solution to this problem that doesn't exist? 'try not to park the vehicle on hills'.

Therefore I feel this car should be sold with a warning that it should not be exposed to hills or bad weather. I for one will never buy another Ford!